Depending on how flat the batteries are will affect the charge time as well as how close the cell is to 4 volts as it will be ramping down the charge rate, the battery size will also affect this.
I was charging 26650 in around 3 to 5 hours depending on how flat the cell was the 18650 was a a bit quicker. A hobby charger's time around would be around the same for balance charging but i could charge 6 in the time it would take to charge one.
Even a hobby charger will ramp down once the cell is near full and this is the longest part of the charge while it might be slightly quicker then a TR-005 there is not a really big gain in time saving unless you charge more then one at a time.
This is how i charge my 26650,s and 18650,s normally
Balance charging 3 x 26650,s take around the same time charging one on the TR-005 but i can balance charge up to 6 at a time in the same time, monitor each cells voltage plus other features.
This thread about balance charging might interest you
But not every one wants to buy a hobby charger, power supply and then have to buy parts to make up there own leads. I enjoy it and i like having one charger that charge's every battery in my house and the power supply i have for my charger is used for more then just my hobby charger.
Thanks. I'd always assumed a hobby rig would vastly outperform a single/dual purpose charger like the TR-005. Now that I know that it still takes 3-5 hours to fully charge a 26650, I don't feel as bad about spending $40 on 4 TR-005s and $15 on the WF-188. I'd be hard pressed to build a hobby rig for as little as that and charging times apparently aren't that much different. I kinda wish I hadn't sold my other WF-188 though. Those adapters I made to charge the 32600s in the TR-005 are kind of a hack-job.
Unfortunately most of the low end chargers over charge or trickle charge, the key here is to keep and eye on them and do not leave any battery on any charger charging over night, its not recommended and its the best way to avoid this, but 0.02 volt is OK it will not hurt the cell and the protection on protected cell's does not kick in till around 4.35 volt's.
The charger you linked only charge's at 0.65 amps thats a bit low and would be really really slow for charging 26650,s the one in this review charges at 1.5 amps and would charge 3 x 26650's in the time the charger you linked could charge just over 1 x 26650. Plus it look's like you would have to cut of the plug and add your own say if you need a EU or AU plug so it might only be suitable to US buyers. Not just use an old power cord you had sitting around your house and plug it into the charger like i did. It will take approx 15 + hours to charge a fully depleted 26650 with the charger you linked. Do not leave any charger on over night or unattended.
Ive been using this a lot to make sure it is good enough to give to my old man as a gift, did not want to give him a dodgy charge, but ive been very happy with the charging time and performance for the price. So IMO it is ready to gift and ill go back to using my hobby charger the icharger 106b+.
Ordered mine form DX 09/05/12. Received 10/10/12.
Mine also came with USA power cord only. There was smoke on my first charge, probably from grease. Disassembled it and cleaned everything, it’s working ok now. It runs hot until battery reaches ~3.5V, then it starts to cool down. According to my DMM it’s charging at 1.22A.